Each and every one of us enjoys a good night relaxing with some snacks and a drink while watching a good scary flick. We settle in and get comfortable, popping in that coveted DVD or Blu-ray, maybe even pulling up the digital download – however you choose to consume your entertainment is up to you.
Before we press the “play” button, though, we always turn out the lights, and compiled below is a list of 13 films that are perfect for this scenario!
13) Sinister (2012)
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Fred Thompson, James Ransone, Clare Foley, Michael Hall D’Addario; Directed By: Scott Derrickson
This film follows the story of Ellison Oswalt, a true-crime author who is looking for his next book. When he knowingly moves his family into a new home where a grisly crime had been committed, things begin to go wrong. The local sheriff isn’t making things any better for Ellison as he is researching the crime that took place. Ellison finds some old home videos and shortly after learns that he is getting more than he originally bargained for. The film is shot incredibly, and the script is decent for “Hollywood Horror.” The director did an incredible job, and it was an honest surprise to me that it took as long as it did to get a sequel. The acting in the film is pretty good… not perfect, but it is good. I would recommend this as an introduction for someone who is on the fence as to whether or not they would have any interest in the horror genre.
12) Insidious (2010)
Starring: Lin Shaye, Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Angus Sampson, Barbara Hershey, Joseph Bishara; Directed By: James Wan
James Wan has carved quite a name for himself within the horror genre. A couple of his films are on this list, and it is due to him having his finger on the pulse of horror. From jump scares to overbearing tension, Wan delivers it in all of his genre films, and Insidious is no exception. It follows a small family who become victims of a haunting when their son drops into a coma and becomes a vessel for spirits in another dimension who want to inhabit his body to live once more. This is a creepy piece of horror cinema that I personally love. Highly recommended if you are looking for something spooky on a stormy night!
11) REC (2007)
Starring: Manuela Velasco, Ferran Terraza, Jorge-Yamam Serrano, Pablo Rosso, David Vert, Vicente Gil, Martha Carbonell, Carlos Vicente; Directed By: Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza.
This is a Spanish film that takes place in Barcelona, following a reporter and her cameraman as they are shooting a documentary. As they are filming some firemen, a call comes in about a trapped woman in a nearby apartment building, which sends them into a downward spiral of a nightmare that is only just the beginning. The film is incredibly terrifying, filled with tension from start to finish. The acting is really good, and the story is tremendous. REC has been given the American remake treatment and has spawned sequels. I highly recommend you watch this version, though, and not Quarantine.
10) Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Starring: Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea, Karl Hardman, Marilyn Eastman, Keith Wayne, Judith Ridley, Kyra Schon, Charles Craig; Directed By: George A. Romero
This film is a classic in every sense of the word. It is just as effective now as it was back in 1968. As pretty much everyone knows, NOTLD follows a group of people who are hiding from bloodthirsty zombies in a farmhouse. Romero paved the path to the modern zombie flick when he unleashed this masterpiece onto the world. Go check it out, and if you have already seen it, watch it again… you know you want to!
9) The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Starring: Heather Donahue, Michael C Williams, and Joshua Leonard; Directed By: Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sanchez
The Blair Witch Project is one of the most successful horror films ever made. It, much like Paranormal Activity, set the basis for the plethora of found-footage films released under the gimmick that it is real. In my opinion this film is much more effective than the others. It came out before the internet became what it is now, and due to that, it works. If this was coming out now, I honestly believe it would be a flop and probably would have been a direct-to-video/DVD movie that just languished on shelves in your local Best Buy. Luckily for us, though, the film came out at the exact perfect time and struck a nerve with audiences everywhere. If you haven’t seen this film, then you may want to seek it out, especially if you are into the found footage sub-genre.
8) The Babadook (2014)
Starring: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney, Daniel Henshall, Barbara West, and Ben Winspear; Directed By: Jennifer Kent
The Babadook is one of the newest films featured in this list, and it earns its place due to being a great look at tension and suspense. The film follows a young mother who is struggling with the loss of her husband and having to carry on as a single mother. Her child is suffering from fears of a monster, and this only raises the stress on his mother. One night they stumble across a storybook that causes problems. The Babadook is tremendous; Kent found a way to deliver a stunningly tense piece of film that you should definitely check out!
7) Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
Starring: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans, Ralph Bellamy, Angela Dorian; Directed By: Roman Polanski
This film is definitely one that you can kick back and go along for the ride with the lights out. It is tense, creepy, and a staple in every horror fan’s collection. Throw a rock, and you will be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t know about this film or even the television series. I love Rosemary’s Baby and highly recommend it for everyone; it is a great cult film that will get you through many stormy nights. If you don’t own this one, then you should try to get your hands on the Criterion release.
6) The Thing (1982)
Starring: Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, Richard Masur, Donald Moffat, David Clennon, T.K. Carter, Richard A. Dysart; Directed By: John Carpenter
Horror master John Carpenter delivers one of the most beloved films within our favorite genre, but it didn’t start out so loved. The Thing originally bombed when it was released into theaters back in 1982. It is arguably one of the best films ever made and is still just as impactful on the thirtieth viewing as the first. The film follows a group of researchers in the Antarctic who become the targets of a parasitic alien life form. The Thing is proof that a remake can work if it is done by the right guy and has the right script. I will say that the original story is a fun read, and if you haven’t had the chance, you should seek out John W. Campbell Jr’s Who Goes There? It is a fun, quick read that I highly recommend as well.
5) The Conjuring (2013)
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor; Directed By: James Wan
This is a great ghost story that is sure to be even more effective in a darkened room. James Wan crafts a wickedly fun ride of a film and truly delivers on the chills. We follow the Warrens as they become involved in a case involving an old witch who has laid a curse upon her land. It is a great film for those who love paranormal investigative type stories, but if you;re going into this looking for true events, then you need to take what you get with a grain of salt. Nonetheless, The Conjuring is very enjoyable and will please most people in search of a film to watch after dark.
4) Hellraiser (1987)
Starring: Ashley Laurence, Doug Bradley, Claire Higgins, Andrew Robinson; Directed By: Clive Barker
There is not much that I can say that hasn’t been said already. This is a perfect film to watch in the dark with or without a few friends around. The make-up effects are remarkable, and the dialogue is instantly quotable. This film is highly enjoyable even after multiple viewings and still holds up to this day. It is another based on written fiction; The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker is pretty much one of the best horror novellas that you can read. The film is a little different than the book, but that’s what you will typically get with any adaptation; however, for the most part it follows the novella to the letter.
3) The Strangers (2008)
Starring: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, Glenn Howerton; Directed By: Bryan Bertino
This is one of the most frightening films released after 2000 and is typically the go-to example for the home invasion sub-genre. We follow a young couple who are having issues within their relationship and become the random targets of three masked individuals. This film drips with tension and will leave you begging for more. The Strangers is one of my all-time favorites and scares me every time. This is definitely a film to watch with the lights out!
2) Halloween (1978)
Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasance, Nick Castle, P.J. Soles, Nancy Kyes; Directed By: John Carpenter
In Halloween, arguably Carpenter’s best film, we follow the story of high school good girl Laurie Strode as she and her friends are stalked by a masked psychopath. This film is beloved by horror and film fanatics all over the world and is a must-watch during the fall. It is incredibly suspenseful and gripping. I’m sure that everyone reading this list has seen the film, but if by some chance you haven’t, then you need to stop what you are doing and put this one on RIGHT NOW!
1) The Exorcist (1973)
Starring: Linda Blaire, Ellen Burstyn, Max Von Sydow, Lee J. Cobb, Kitty Winn, Jack MacGowran, Jason Miller; Directed By: William Friedkin
This is a quintessential film for any horror fanatic. From the subject matter to the actual events that take place within the film, The Exorcist is the perfect movie to throw on late at night with all the lights turned off. It has an incredibly compelling story and is shockingly terrifying. The acting and effects in this film still hold up to this day, making it THE go-to film to view with the lights out! Be sure to watch this one on your next stormy night.